NHL Prospect Watch -- Southeast Division

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

[Thanks for the write-ups so far]

Atlanta Thrashers
... coming ...


Carolina Hurricanes
Name: Zach Boychuk
Acquired: CAR 1st round 2008, 14th overall
Position/Projection: Top line forward, C/LW
Report: Minimal physicality but a reliable two-way player in addition to his offensive skills. He could be the right guy to play on Eric Staal's wing. Boychuk is NHL ready right now and at the very least should be in the lineup on a regular basis next season. Is 42-53-95 in 60 games in Albany this season.

Name: Brandon Sutter
Acquired: CAR 1st round 2007, 11th overall
Position/Projection: 2nd line C
Report: Defensively Sutter is ready for the jump to the NHL level and will likely center the checking line come next season. Offensively he's still a work in progress as his shot still isn't quite ready. That's the only part of his game that he seems to be lacking at this point though. Projects as a smaller version of Rod Brind'Amour, something that shouldn't sit poorly with Canes fans. Future captain material as well. Is 32-32-63 in 60 games with Albany.

Name: Casey Borer
Acquired: CAR 3rd round 2004, 69th overall
Position/Projection: Top pair shutdown D
Report: While he lacks a high end upside physically Borer should be one of the focal points of the Canes defense over the next few seasons. He's currently a worthy NHLer and is his development over the next few months will play a big role in the Canes playoff hopes. Has made a nice comeback from a serious injury received in a team bus crash in Albany last season. Nine points in 55 games in Albany; is seeing time in Carolina right now, with 2 assists in 5 games played.

Name: Jamie McBain
Acquired: CAR 2nd round 2006, 63rd overall
Position/Projection: 4/5 D, PP quarterback
Report: Defensively McBain is just about ready to make the jump but his offensive game is still a work in progress. Hopefully he will be ready by the start of next season but it is unlikely that he will make the jump for another season or two. A strong skater already, he'll only get better. Is 5-24-29 in 60 games with Albany.

Name: Philippe Paradis
Acquired: CAR 1st round 2009, 27th overall
Position/Projection: Checking line C
Report: Paradis is not much of a prospect offensively but from a physical standpoint he offers the type of punch that the Hurricanes badly need. He's likely a minimum of two seasons from the NHL but it's probable that when he gets there he will be the physical presence the Canes badly need in the lineup. His faceoff skills will make him a valuable player to the team, and his leadership makes him a good long term prospect for the team. Playing with Shawinigan in the QMJHL.

Best of the rest:
F Drayson Bowman -- could sneak in as a PP sniper, but upside is limited
C Nicolas Blanchard -- checking line C/LW, with minimal offense and poor skating
G Justin Peters and Mike Murphy -- not much separates these two; will compete to be Cam Ward's long-term backup


Florida Panthers
Name: Jacob Markstrom
Acquired: FLA 2nd round 2008, 31st overall
Position/Projection: starting G
Report: Currently biding his time in the AHL, should be the Panthers goalie of the future, depending on Vokoun's tenure. Has the size and the consistency to feature as a #1 netminder in the NHL. Should be seeing minutes next season. Has seen 12 games in the AHL, with 1 shutout and a 1.99 gaa.

Name: Dmitri Kulikov
Acquired: FLA 1st round 2009, 14th overall
Position/Projection: 1st pair offensive D, power play specialist
Report: Although Kulikov has some inconsistencies to his game, he should be a fixture on the point for years to come. A big shot, fantastic stickhandling and checking skills are matched with so-so playmaking and positioning skills. However, he's inexplicably seen no ice time at all this season, leading to speculation about his future in Florida. Or perhaps the rumors of epidemic toe fungus in the Miami area really are to be believed.

Name: Keaton Ellerby
Acquired: FLA 1st round 2007, 10th overall
Position/Projection: 2nd/3rd pair defensive/physical D
Report: With Kulikov and Ellerby, the Panthers are 1/3 of the way to a solid, young, blueline corps. Working on his second full season with the Rochester Americans in the AHL, Ellerby is just about ready for the jump into full-time employment in the NHL. Whether it's in Florida or somewhere less sunny remains to be seen.

Best of the rest:
F Kenndal McArdle -- 4th line checking winger
F Drew Shore -- fringe power forward
D Philip Samuelsson -- 5/6 defensive D


Tampa Bay Lightning
... coming ...


Washington Capitals
Name: Dmitri Kugryshev
Acquired: WSH 2nd round 2008, 58th overall
Position/Projection: 2nd line winger
Report: Yet another in the long list of Caps forwards with mad offensive skills, Kugryshev has been coming along slowly in Hershey (23 goals in 53 games). With Ovechkin's injury, he's been seeing time in D.C. lately, but won't really be ready for prime time until next season. He can hold his own defensively, and has no serious drawbacks other than a dislike for physical play.

Name: Oskar Osala
Acquired: WSH 4th round 2006, 97th overall
Position/Projection: 3rd line checking forward
Report: Osala is the kind of player Washington will need to keep on hand to balance the solid set of hard-charging scoring forwards already in the stable. He's also capable of chipping in the odd goal or two, and should make a solid penalty killer in another season. Osala has 11 points with Hershey this season, and has seen action in 4 games with the Caps.

Name: Andrei Plekhanov
Acquired: Trade with CBS (CBS 3rd round 2004, 96th overall)
Position/Projection: 4/5 offensive D, power play specialist
Report: A late bloomer at 23, Plekhanov has the offensive chops to score big time in the NHL. He may still need another year or so to get there, but figures to be a fine set-up man and bomber from the point for the Caps power play. He has 8 goals and 18 assists in the AHL this season.

Name: Michal Neuvirth
Acquired: WSH 2nd round 2006, 34th overall
Position/Projection: Backup G
Report: Should take over from Theodore as the reserve netminder in Washington next season. Neuvirth's only real drawback is a lack of consistency, but with Varlamov holding the fort, he won't need to play too often. Could also be quality trade bait if the Caps decide they need more scoring one day. Has 2.18 gaa and 6 shutouts in 32 games with Hershey.

Name: Braden Holtby
Acquired: WSH 4th round 2008, 93rd overall
Position/Projection: Backup G
Report: See above for Neuvirth. Holtby may actually rate slightly higher than Neuvirth down the road, given his larger frame and better consistency. The two have shared the net in Hershey, with Holtby registering a 2.31 gaa and 3 shutouts in 30 games.

Best of the rest:
LW Josh Birkholz -- serious checking winger, could be 4th line stud
D John Carlson -- lower-rent offensive D, but could still sneak in as fringe NHLer
C Marcus Johansson -- playmaking C, needs better skating; still a couple of years off

[Jets GM]

TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING TOP 5 PROSPECTS

#1
Name: Louis Leblanc (1st Rd/18th Oa/2009)
Position: C/RW
Team: Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Stats: 0[GP] 0[G] 0[A]
Report: Leblanc came over in a trade with Montreal for physical d-men Matt Smaby recently, and instantly became Tampa Bay's top prospect. Leblanc displays incredible finish around the net with his laser shot, and Tampa hopes that with some time spent in the AHL Leblanc can round out his offensive game and become a top 6 NHL forward in a few years. That process will begin shortly as Leblanc signed a entry level contract this week and will report to the Norfolk Admirals, after starting the year with Harvard of the ECAC. He was tied for the team lead with fellow Lighting prospect Alexander Killorn with 29 points in 16 games.

#2
Name: Dustin Tokarski (5th Rd/122nd Oa/2008)
Position: G
Team: Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Stats: 37[GP] 22[W] 2.31[GAA]
Report: Tokarski, a late round pick by Tampa in 2008 has shown real promise since turning pro this year. Starting off the year as Norfolk's starter as a 20 year old, his job was challenged after Curtis Joseph was signed mid-season by the Lightning. However Tokarski's development and strong play has him getting the majority of the starts recently and it looks like it will stay that way from here on out. Tampa is looking at Tokarski possibly backing up Martin Brodeur in the NHL as early as next year.

#3
Name: Richard Panik (2nd Rd/52nd Oa/2009)
Position: LW/RW
Team: Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Stats: 52[GP] 8[G] 13[A]
Report: Panik is a under-ager playing in the AHL this season, and got off to a rough spot being buried in the bottom 6 forwards on a deep AHL team. His work off the rink while learning the North American game has helped Panik sky rocket to the top line in Norfolk. Panik's rapid improvement shows no signs of stopping, however his production continues to be bunches and he will need to find a way to use his offensive talents to be a effective contributor to his team night in night out. Panik is a boom or bust pick, even if he reaches potential skill wise his consistency will determine whether he is a top 6 NHL forward or a depth player that struggles to make the big show.

#4
Name: Dana Tyrell (2nd Rd/47th Oa/2007)
Position: C/RW
Team: Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Stats: 58[GP] 13[G] 17[A]
Report: Tyrell finds himself in a tough spot, his first full season in the AHL has been successful one after starting the year as the #3 center like Panik his development saw him improve rapidly and with injuries to both farm/pro teams gave him the chance to play big minutes. Now centering Norfolk's top line and playing minutes on the PP and PK, Tyrell has established he can be an effective player at the AHL level. However, he has glaring weaknesses with a sub-par shot which is a key attribute for any scoring forward. His defensive game is still not at a level where he could contribute positively in the centermen role, but time is on his side as a 20 year old Tyrell has plenty of it to learn the defensive side of the game. If able to, Tyrell could be a find a way to be a 4th line NHL center that can contribute offensively.

#5
Name: Alex Hutchings (4th Rd/93rd Oa/2009)
Position: LW/RW
Team: Norfolk Admirals (AHL)
Stats: 0[GP] 0[G] 0[A]
Report: The farther you go down the Lightning prospect list, the thinner the talent becomes. Alex Hutchings is a wildly inconsistent offensive minded winger, which will prevent him from taking a regular shift as a top 6 forward in the NHL. Hutchings doesn't display any sort of defensive upside, so him working his way into the lineup as a role player isn't likely either. However, he's shown an ability to read the game very well when he wants to and has a laser beam for a shot. Those are important attributes which will continue to develop in the minors, (he signed a pro contract this week) and will at the very least make him an effective 13th forward who could fill in for injured players in a scoring role.

[Commish Bub(NYR)]

FLA and WSH added.

Sorry about missing you, TB.

[CapsGM]

Great job, pretty much spot on to what I would have written. Too bad my desire to write my own articles has disappeared. Thanks.